Architect - Senior

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn.   For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

For information on the Capital Improvements Division of the Department of Public Works and Facilities please click HERE.  The resulting eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in various County departments as they arise. 

This recruitment will be open until filled. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately.

The Department of Public Works and Facilities is seeking a Senior Architect to supervise and support a project management staff in the Capital Improvements Division. The ideal candidate will have Design-Build experience and experience in criminal justice project management. The division provides architectural design and construction management services for facility construction and improvement projects. The division staff manages, plans, and designs projects valued between $50,000 and over $50 million. This senior-level position also exercises technical and functional supervision over designated staff.

To perform the most complex professional architectural duties; to oversee consultant and construction contracts; and to provide assistance to management staff in developing and administering the division budget and division-wide policies and procedures.

This is the advanced journey level in the Architect series. Positions at this level are distinguished from the journey level Architect by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, and the independence of action taken.  Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series, which includes the exercise of direct supervision over professional, technical and clerical staff as assigned.  Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Receives general direction from a Capital Improvements Manager and designated management personnel.  May exercise direct supervision over assigned Capital Improvements professional, technical and clerical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Direct, monitor, and oversee the work of division staff project teams, including professional level architects, senior project managers, technical and clerical staff.
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training, conduct performance evaluations, recommend discipline; implement discipline as directed.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of assigned professional, technical and clerical staff.
• Prepare design and construction drawings and specifications for new construction or alterations; and prepare general layout and perspective drawings to illustrate and evaluate proposed projects.
• Provide construction contract administration for the most difficult and complex Capital Improvements projects undertaken by staff; conduct construction inspections for difficult projects and implement contract change orders as needed in order to ensure compliance with intended function of division projects.
• Assess departmental project funding and modify contract conditions with consultants and/or contractors as needed; manage construction budgets and coordinate and monitor capital improvements construction projects including consultation with architects, engineers, and consultants.
• Assist management staff in the development of technical standards and division-wide policies and guidelines; establish and monitor procedures for work flow and format.
• Participate in the development and administration of the division budget; provide cost estimates, projections and recommendations based upon needs analysis; monitor expenditures and provide feedback to management staff as needed.
• Plan check drawings and determine code compliance.
• Prepare reports, correspondence, agreements, graphs, tables and other written documents; analyze, interpret and explain laws, policies, codes and regulations to affected stakeholders; make presentations at public meetings as required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.

It is the applicant's responsibility to identify in their application materials how they meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below.

Experience: Three years as a licensed professional architect.

Training: Possession of an Architect License issued by the California Architects Board meets the training requirements for this classification.

 License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

• Possession of an Architect License issued by the California Architects Board.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of personnel management techniques, including employee supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Policies and procedures of  assigned department and its respective divisions.
• County government and services as they relate to facility needs and administrative requirements.
• Principles and practices of architecture and construction management, including, but not limited to, building materials and construction methods, common descriptions of real property, and the methods and techniques used in planning, designing, and drafting municipal buildings.
• Principles and practices of project and contract administration, including budget management and control, basic accounting and contract negotiations.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local statutes, ordinances, and regulations, including International Building Code and contract law.
• County procurement policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of architectural design, including computer aided drafting and design technology.
• Statistical methods and analysis, and the use of statistics in reports.
• Modern office procedures and methods; computer hardware and software, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, CADD and graphics applications.
• Research, analysis, program development, and management techniques.
• Administrative procedures and methods.
• Business correspondence and report preparation.
• Workplace safety.

Ability to:

• Effectively plan, direct supervisor and evaluate the work of assigned staff.
• Organize, implement and direct architectural operations and activities of assigned division.
• Participate in the development, monitoring and administration of the division budget.
• Analyze, interpret and explain pertinent laws, codes, regulations, and Placer County policies and procedures.
• Prepare architectural drawings and specifications of difficult and complex alterations, new buildings, and miscellaneous construction projects.
• Review detailed plans and specifications; prepare contract documents and cost estimates for difficult and complex capital improvements projects.
• Analyze situations quickly and effectively and determine appropriate course of action; collect analyze, and interpret data; evaluate, negotiate, and resolve operational issues.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

All applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be required to respond to an online Conviction History Questionnaire, which will be sent as a link on their notification that minimum qualifications have been met.  Failure to respond to this questionnaire within (3) three calendar days of the minimum qualification notification will result in disqualification from the examination.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination, which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation and/or be bonded.

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and those in management and confidential groups, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for Professional bargaining unit